HSK 2 · Story · 163 characters · Listen: mandarinthewild.com/library/read/how-to-tell-time-in-chinese

现在几点？

What time is it?

Name: ________________ Date: ________

今天jīntiān，凯凯káikǎi问wèn了le很hěn多次duōcì：“现在xiànzài几点jídiǎn？”

早上zǎoshang，他tā问wèn妈妈māma。妈妈māma说shuō：“七点半qīdiǎnbàn。”凯凯káikǎi说shuō：“还hái早zǎo。”

中午zhōngwǔ，他tā问wèn同学tóngxué。同学tóngxué说shuō：“十二点十分shí’èrdiǎnshífēn。”凯凯káikǎi说shuō：“还hái早zǎo！”

下午xiàwǔ，凯凯káikǎi还hái没méi问wèn，老师lǎoshī就jiù说shuō：“三点二十分sāndiǎn’èrshífēn，凯凯káikǎi。你nǐ今天jīntiān怎么zěnme了le？”凯凯káikǎi说shuō：“没什么méishénme，还hái早zǎo。”

晚上wǎnshang，他tā问wèn了le爸爸bàba五wǔ次cì。爸爸bàba说shuō：“八点四十五分bādiǎnsìshíwǔfēn。你nǐ在zài等děng什么shénme？”

九jiǔ点diǎn，妈妈māma说shuō：“九jiǔ点diǎn了le，去qù睡觉shuìjiào吧ba。”

凯凯káikǎi马上mǎshàng跑pǎo到dào床chuáng上shàng，关上guānshàng了le灯dēng。

妈妈māma笑xiào了le：“你nǐ今天jīntiān怎么zěnme这么zhème想xiǎng睡觉shuìjiào？”

“快kuài睡shuì吧ba！”凯凯káikǎi说shuō，“睡shuì一yí觉jiào，明天míngtiān就jiù到dào了le。明天míngtiān是shì我wǒ的de生日shēngrì！”

Key words

WordPinyinMeaning
今天jīntiāntoday
问wènto ask
现在xiànzàinow; at present
早上zǎoshangmorning
妈妈māmamom; mother
说shuōto speak; to say
早zǎoearly
中午zhōngwǔnoon; midday
同学tóngxuéclassmate; fellow student
下午xiàwǔafternoon
老师lǎoshīteacher
怎么zěnmehow; why; how come

English (for the teacher)

Today, Kaikai asked the same thing again and again: “What time is it?”

In the morning, he asked Mum. Mum said, “Half past seven.” Kaikai said, “Still early.”

At noon, he asked a classmate. The classmate said, “Ten past twelve.” Kaikai said, “Still early!”

In the afternoon, before Kaikai could even ask, the teacher said, “Twenty past three, Kaikai. What’s up with you today?” Kaikai said, “Nothing. Still early.”

In the evening, he asked Dad five times. Dad said, “Eight forty-five. What are you waiting for?”

At nine, Mum said, “It’s nine. Off to bed.”

Kaikai ran straight to bed and switched off the light.

Mum laughed. “Why are you so keen to sleep today?”

“Quick, time to sleep!” Kaikai said. “One sleep, and tomorrow will be here. Tomorrow’s my birthday!”